Russia claims new advance in Donetsk region – DW – 07/28/2024

A ceremony to commemorate the incident in which more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed. The explosion at the barracks of the Olenivka prison two years agodrew thousands of soldiers and civilians to Kiev’s Independence Square on Sunday.

“I was in Olenivka and the explosion shocked me,” said Kirillo Masarytin, who was later released. “I have never felt so helpless. Those who are still held captive feel that helplessness every day.”

Both sides are blaming each other for the explosion.

The rally called on the Ukrainian government to make further efforts to get Russia to release more prisoners.

Some gathered also protested Russia’s continued imprisonment of Ukrainian soldiers from the Azov Battalion, who were captured during Russia’s capture of the city of Mariupol.

“We are here to remember those who died and those who were taken prisoner. We are here to urge the government to work hard on this case,” a soldier who gave his name as Stanislav told The Associated Press.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin Threatened on Sunday resume production of intermediate-range nuclear weapons if America Deploy the missiles Germany.

“If the United States carries out such plans, we will consider it a release from the unilateral moratorium adopted so far on the deployment of medium- and short-range strike capabilities,” Putin said at a naval parade in St. Petersburg.

“The development of some of these systems is in the final stages,” Putin added.

“We will take into account the actions of US satellite states in the US, Europe and other parts of the world and will take similar measures when deploying them,” he warned.

These missiles were covered by an arms control treaty signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987.

However, both Washington and Moscow withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, accusing each other of violating it.

Russia He later said he would not resume production of such missiles unless the United States deployed them overseas.

Earlier this month, Washington and Berlin US long-range missilesThe delivery of a missile defense system to Germany, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, is scheduled to begin in 2026.

Ukraine It said it had attacked an oil depot in the southern Kursk region on Sunday. Russia It supplies Kremlin forces involved in the invasion of Ukraine.

The attack near Ukraine’s border with Sumy region caused a “powerful explosion and fire, likely involving a container with petroleum products,” the Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement.

“The Armed Forces continue to use all means to weaken the military and economic power of the Russian occupying forces and force the Russian Federation to end its armed aggression against Ukraine,” the statement added.

Acting regional governor Alexei Smirnov said firefighters were battling to put out the blaze after three fuel tanks caught fire on Sunday morning. No one was injured.

Russia said its air defense systems destroyed seven drones launched by Ukraine overnight.

The Russian Defense Ministry said five drones were destroyed over the Belgorod region and two over the Kursk region.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted oil depots and other military infrastructure on Russian territory with drones and other weapons.

Russian forces have occupied the villages of Prokhres and Evkhenivka in eastern Ukraine. Russian The Ministry of Defense revealed this.

The pro-government Ukrainian military channel “Deep State” recently posted on Telegram: Donetsk The area was occupied by Russian troops.

The village has been the subject of fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces for three months.

Since the start of the year, the Kremlin has reported dozens of conquests in the annexed Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, as well as in the mainly Russian-controlled Kharkiv oblast. Ukraine.

Russian troops are currently advancing towards the city of Pokrovsk, northwest of the regional capital.

Ukrainian Government Typically, no territorial losses are observed.

mm/wd (Reuters, AP, AFP, DPA)